Arsenal's blockbuster Champions League quarter-final tie with Real Madrid on Tuesday, 8 April, is another reminder of just how iconic the Gunners are as an entity within football.
It should, therefore, be no surprise to learn that Arsenal boast one of the largest fanbases in world football, with many of their supporters spanning across multiple continents.
Arsenal fans transcend the boundaries of fame, and here, Football Ground Guide helps you explore the most notable Gunners supporters.
From renowned entertainers to athletic legends and influential personalities, the Arsenal family spans various spheres of prominence. Read on for more.
Actors who support the Gunners
Born in Hackney in London, Idris Elba says he has always been an Arsenal fan. On That Peter Crouch Podcast, the Luther actor recalled encountering members of West Ham’s firm when he was 12.
“They used to terrorise us at school and I remember I had an Arsenal shirt given to me somewhere and I wore an Arsenal shirt and they were screaming at me and shouting at me and I just felt really powerful in it.”
He added that the Arsenal shirt became “sort of my superhero thing.”
Academy Award and BAFTA-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya is also a lifelong Arsenal fan. The Get Out and Black Panther actor narrated Amazon's All or Nothing documentary on Arsenal’s 2021/22 season.
Narrator of Arsenal: All or Nothing, Daniel Kaluuya: “Arsenal fans are wankers.” ? pic.twitter.com/AmCordA1Hz
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) August 2, 2022
Is Benedict Cumberbatch an Arsenal fan?
Benedict Cumberbatch and Colin Firth are just two more actors said to be Arsenal fans. Firth has been a passionate supporter of the Gunners, and that is depicted in the movie Fever Pitch, where his passion for and obsession with Arsenal is well-executed.
Other actors who support Arsenal include:
- Demi Moore
- Hugh Laurie
- Jamie Foxx
- Andrew Garfield
- Matt Lucas
- Daisy Ridley
Did the Queen support Arsenal?
It is clear that even if Queen Elizabeth II was not among the diehard Arsenal fans, she certainly had a soft spot for the Gunners. In February 2007, Arsenal became the only football club to be invited for afternoon tea with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
On this day in 2007: Queen Elizabeth became the first monarch to host a football team at Buckingham Palace as Arsenal visited. The invitation came after the Queen was unable to attend the opening of the Emirates Stadium, done by the Duke of Edinburgh, the previous October. #afc pic.twitter.com/tIXlGFQty8
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) February 15, 2022
However, it is reported that the invite came due to the Queen’s disappointment in being unable to cut the ribbon to officially open the Emirates Stadium in 2006, not due to her being an Arsenal fan.
The Queen was reportedly secretly a West Ham United fan, a revelation that reportedly “shocked” her Buckingham Palace staff. The Daily Mirror shed light on this supposed allegiance, suggesting that Her Majesty's love for the Hammers was a well-kept secret and dated back to the tenure of ex-West Ham manager Ron Greenwood in the 1960s.
However, amidst the conflicting tales, former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas provided a twist in 2007, affirming that the Queen personally disclosed her favouritism for Arsenal.
The royal pitch extends beyond the Queen, reaching Prince Harry's, reported, candid confession to a friend of being an Arsenal fan during a moment at Twickenham.
However, as the football winds blow, Prince William takes a different path, favouring Aston Villa. Meanwhile, King Charles follows his football passion, proudly waving the Burnley flag.
Other famous Arsenal fans
Is Jay-Z an Arsenal fan?
Inspired by his friendship with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, rapper Jay-Z embraced the Gunners' fandom, expressing his admiration for their beautiful football style.
The rapper reportedly even contemplated purchasing shares in the club and securing a spot in the boardroom, revealing his desire to be actively involved in decision-making.
Jay-Z's commitment to Arsenal reached such heights that he hinted at a potential move to London with his wife Beyonce to immerse himself further in the club's affairs.
Is Mick Jagger an Arsenal fan?
The Rolling Stones lead singer is also a massive Arsenal fan and was seen watching the Gunners’ 3-0 win at Fulham in March this year.
Other music stars include:
- Rihanna
- Chris Martin
- Jess Glynne
Is Mo Farah an Arsenal fan?
Team GB legend Mo Farah, hailing from Somalia, has long been an ardent supporter of Arsenal. In 2016, he shared that his affinity for Arsenal began in his childhood upon arriving in Britain, drawn to their playing style and the presence of players with African backgrounds.
“I didn't want to become a runner, I wanted to play for Arsenal!” ?️
Imagine @Mo_Farah playing as the midfield engine! ?♂️#MoFarah #Arsenal #AFC #Interview pic.twitter.com/q0Z1XLRnkX
— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) July 9, 2023
Farah's dedication to the Gunners goes beyond fandom; he even wanted his son's middle name to be ‘Arsenal' and harbours aspirations to work as a fitness coach for the club.
Is Lewis Hamilton an Arsenal fan?
Another non-footballing sports star who appears to be a fan of the Gunners is Formula One legend Lewis Hamilton.
His love affair with the North London club did not have the most romantic of beginnings – far from it. In fact, Hamilton has previously revealed that he was actually ‘forced' to become an Arsenal fan by his older sister.
Speaking on that moment, the now 40-year-old said: “I remember switching between these teams when I was younger and getting home and my sister punching me several times in the arm, beating me and saying ‘you have to support Arsenal’, so I remember at five or six years old that I became a supporter of Arsenal.”
However, his affection for the club grew stronger over the years, and he is now an avid Arsenal supporter, although his attempt to buy Chelsea in 2022 did cause a stir among the fanbase.
Piers Morgan: The Arsenal fan provocateur
Piers Morgan has been an Arsenal fan since his childhood and has evolved into the club's outspoken provocateur, captivating a large audience on X (formerly Twitter).
While the British journalist claims to be a passionate fan sharing sentiments akin to those in a pub, Morgan wields a unique influence.
Known for his candid critiques, he certainly didn’t hesitate to call for the dismissal of former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger on numerous occasions. He has also gone in on multiple players and the club multiple times.
Morgan's Arsenal fervour isn't confined to the stands; it permeates through his outspoken role.
Which football players support Arsenal?
Is Harry Kane an Arsenal fan?
Most English football fans will have seen the photo of a young Harry Kane in an Arsenal kit, but did he support the Gunners?
Harry Kane celebrating Arsenal winning the league in a Gunners shirt? Here you go… pic.twitter.com/3dwSy1vAZ4
— Layth (@laythy29) July 12, 2020
The England captain did spend a year in Arsenal’s youth academy but was released. So, as much as Arsenal fans like to use the picture to torment their North London rivals, the England captain insists he has never been an Arsenal fan.
Harry Kane in an Arsenal shirt
Ray Parlour on Kane: “Have you seen the pictures of his in 2004 with an Arsenal shirt on? He's one of our own!” pic.twitter.com/wRglj6XyoP
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley) April 28, 2016
Which Arsenal players are Arsenal fans?
Several football players are Arsenal fans despite not playing for the club. But there are also a few who are living the dream and playing for the club. Both Oleksandr Zinchenko and William Saliba were pictured in Arsenal kits when they were younger.
Who knew Zinchenko was an Arsenal fan as a kid?
“First of all I would like to say this is a boyhood dream come true, because I was a massive fan when I was a kid. Since Thierry Henry & young Cesc Fabregas was playing here, I was just enjoying watching those games, that Arsenal” pic.twitter.com/4kxINhmTY5
— A Bergkamp Wonderland *An Arsenal Podcast (@TheAFCPodcast) July 22, 2022
“When I was growing up I watched all the Champions League games. I couldn’t watch the other games because we didn’t have all the channels, but that was the first time I watched Arsenal, in the Champions League. Then I had an Arsenal shirt when I was about seven or eight years old. I loved watching Arsenal,” said Saliba in an interview in 2022.
When did David Alaba start supporting Arsenal?
Back in 2019, David Alaba revealed to the media (Bild) that he has been a fan of Arsenal since childhood. He mentioned that the loyalty to a childhood club stays for life. Despite not having played for Arsenal, the Real Madrid defender made this confession during his time at Bayern Munich, where he faced Arsenal eight times.
Apart from David Alaba, several other professional players support Arsenal openly, most of whom have come out to speak about their love for the Gunners.
- Wilfried Zaha
- Antonio Rudiger
- Fikayo Tomori
- Dejan Kulusevski
- Ollie Watkins
- Tammy Abraham
- Martin Odegaard